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What Caused My Infected Foot And How Do I Treat It?
A foot infection can occur after an injury. Bacteria can get into a wound, such as a cut or a skin crack, and cause an infection. Sometimes the infection can form into an abscess.
An infected foot is often painful and can make it difficult to walk. Athlete's foot and toenail fungus are also common fungal foot infections. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and ingrown toenails, can also increase your risk for foot infections.
An infected foot needs to be treated. Treatment will depend on the type of infection. Left untreated, a bacterial infection in the foot can lead to cellulitis, which is a potentially serious skin infection that can spread to your lymph nodes and bloodstream.
We'll cover the possible causes and treatments of an infected foot, as well as the signs to watch for.
An infected foot may be painful. Swelling, discoloration, and the formation of a blister or ulcer are also possible. Symptoms of an infected foot depend on the cause.
Infected blisterFoot blisters are pockets of clear fluid that form under your skin. They're very common and usually caused by friction from shoes that're too tight.
Foot blisters can become infected and require immediate treatment. Warmth and redness around the blister are signs of infection. Instead of clear fluid, an infected foot blister may become filled with yellow or greenish pus. In severe cases of athlete's foot, you may develop blisters on your foot or between your toes.
Change in skin colorAn infected foot may change color. Redness is a common sign of infection. If you develop cellulitis, you may notice an expanding area of redness or streaks of redness from the affected area. White, flaky patches between toes are a common sign of athlete's foot.
WarmthThe skin around the affected area may feel warm to the touch if your foot is infected. This is a potential sign of cellulitis.
SmellYou may notice a bad smell coming from your foot. Athlete's foot can cause a foul odor. You may also notice an odor if you have pus draining from a sore or the skin around an ingrown toenail.
SwellingInflammation is a common symptom of an infected foot. Swelling from inflammation may be limited to the area of the infection, such as a toe, or it may spread to your entire foot. Swelling may also cause your skin to appear shiny or waxy.
Toenail discolorationToenail fungus can cause your toenails to change color. At first, a fungal infection can cause a white or yellow spot under the tip of a toenail. As the infection worsens, your nails will become more discolored and may become thick or jagged.
FeverFever is common symptom of infection. A fever can also make you feel lethargic and cause body aches.
Pus or fluid drainageYou may notice draining of fluid or pus from your infected foot if you have an abscess. An infected ingrown toenail can cause a pus-filled pocket to form under your skin at the side of your toenail.
Foot infections usually develop after an injury or wound to the foot. Having certain medical conditions also increases your risk of foot infections.
Fungal infectionAthlete's foot is a common fungal infection. People whose feet are damp for prolonged periods, such as sweating in a pair of tight shoes all day or working in wet conditions, commonly get athlete's foot.
It's contagious and can be spread through contact on floors, towels, or clothing. It often begins between toes, but can spread to your toenails and other parts of your body. The most common symptom is itching, but it can also cause a reddish, scaly rash and flaking or blistering between toes.
DiabetesPeople with diabetes have an increased risk for foot infections. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to damage in the skin, blood vessels, and nerves in the feet. This can make it difficult to feel minor abrasions and blisters, which can become ulcers and get infected.
Reduced blood flow caused by damage to the blood vessels from diabetes slows healing and increases the risk for serious foot infections. Foot infections due to diabetes have a higher risk for a poor prognosis and often lead to complications, sometimes requiring amputation.
WoundsCuts, scrapes, and cracks in the skin on your feet can allow bacteria to enter and cause infection, including bacterial cellulitis.
Ingrown nailsAn ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of a toenail grows into your skin. This can happen when you wear tight shoes or trim your nail into a curve instead of straight across. The skin around an ingrown toenail can become infected.
Plantar wartPlantar warts are small growths that form on the weight-bearing areas of your feet, such as your heels. They're caused when the human papillomavirus enters your body through cracks or cuts in the skin of the bottom of your feet.
A plantar wart can look like a small, rough lesion on the bottom of your foot or a callus over a spot if the wart has grown inward. You may also notice black dots on the bottom of your feet.
Foot infection after surgeryA foot infection is a rare but possible complication of surgery, such as the fix of a fractured foot or ankle. The risk for developing a foot infection after surgery is less than 1 percent in healthy people, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Antibiotics are routinely given before surgery to reduce the risk for infection. Having diabetes or other condition causing a weakened immune system increases your risk for postsurgical infection. Smoking also significantly increases your risk.
Most foot infections require treatment. Some minor infections can be treated at home using home or over-the-counter (OTC) treatments.
At-home treatmentMinor infections, such as athlete's foot or plantar warts can usually be treated at home. Plantar warts sometimes clear up over time without treatment, and some may be effectively treated using OTC wart treatments.
At-home treatment options include:
Some foot infections, such as infected diabetic ulcers and bacterial cellulitis, require medical treatment. The type of treatment used will depend on the cause and severity of the infection.
Sometimes, you may require surgery to treat an infected foot. Surgical treatments can range from a minor in-office procedure to lift or remove a portion of an ingrown toenail to amputation of a foot or leg to treat a severe diabetic infection.
Available treatment options from your doctor for an infected foot can include:
A minor foot infection such as athlete's foot or a plantar wart can often be treated at home, but other foot infections should be evaluated and treated by a doctor. You can book an appointment with a doctor in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool.
Prompt medical treatment can help you avoid complications. See a doctor if you are experiencing pain, redness, and warmth. If you notice red streaks or redness spreading out from a wound, bleeding, or have fever and chills, get emergency medical help.
Keep your feet clean and dry, and regularly inspect your feet for small abrasions and cracks to reduce your risk for foot infections. Early treatment can help you avoid complications.
See your doctor if your infection foot doesn't improve with home treatment or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
Ringworm Treatment
The treatment you need for ringworm depends on where the infection is on your body and how serious it is. In many cases, your doctor may recommend a drug you can buy over the counter (OTC) at your local drugstore. Others need a prescription.
If the infection is on your skin – as in the case of athlete's foot or jock itch – your doctor will likely suggest an OTC antifungal cream, lotion, or powder.
In most cases, you'll have to use the medicines on your skin for 2 to 4 weeks to make sure you kill the fungus that causes ringworm. It'll also lower the chances of it coming back.
If you have ringworm on your scalp or in many different places on your body, OTC treatments may not be enough. Your doctor will write a prescription for an antifungal medication that you'll have to take by mouth for 1 to 3 months.
Griseofulvin (Grifulvin V, Gris-PEG), terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole (Diflucan) are the oral medicines doctors prescribe most often for ringworm.
Tea tree oil for ringworm
Tea tree oil is an essential oil made from the leaves of the Australian tea tree. Early studies show it does work as an antifungal against ringworm. Other studies show that it works against athlete's foot when applied as a cream. You should only use tea tree oil topically as it is toxic if ingested.
Apple cider vinegar for ringworm
Some sources suggest treating ringworm with apple cider vinegar by rubbing some on the infected area and covering it with a bandage. Studies show this vinegar does have some antifungal properties. However, doctors warn that, due to its acidic nature, apple cider vinegar can cause open sores and scarring when used to treat ringworm.
Keeping things clean prevents the infection from spreading to other parts of your body as well as to other people and animals in your household. It will also prevent reinfection once yours has cleared up.
Here are ways to keep things clean when you have a ringworm infection:
Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)
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You can typically treat athlete's foot with topical antifungal medications. Depending on the severity, a doctor may prescribe other medications.
Athlete's foot — also called tinea pedis — is a contagious fungal infection that affects the skin on the feet. It can also spread to the toenails and the hands. The fungal infection is called athlete's foot because it's commonly seen in athletes.
Athlete's foot isn't serious, but sometimes it's hard to cure. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system and suspect you have athlete's foot, you should call your doctor right away.
Athlete's foot occurs when the tinea fungus grows on the feet. You can catch the fungus through direct contact with someone who has it, or by touching surfaces contaminated with the fungus. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments. It's commonly found in showers, on locker room floors, and around swimming pools.
Anyone can get athlete's foot, but certain behaviors increase your risk. Factors that increase your risk of getting athlete's foot include:
There are many possible symptoms of athlete's foot, which include:
A doctor may diagnose athlete's foot by the symptoms. Or, a doctor may order a skin test if they aren't sure a fungal infection is causing your symptoms.
A skin lesion potassium hydroxide exam is the most common test for athlete's foot. A doctor scrapes off a small area of infected skin and places it in potassium hydroxide. The KOH destroys normal cells and leaves the fungal cells untouched so they are easy to see under a microscope.
Athlete's foot can often be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal medications. If OTC medications don't treat your infection, your doctor may prescribe topical or oral prescription-strength antifungal medications. Your doctor may also recommend home treatments to help clear up the infection.
OTC medicationsThere are many OTC topical antifungal medications, including:
Find these OTC antifungal medications on Amazon.
Prescription medicationsSome of the prescription medications your doctor may prescribe for athlete's foot include:
Your doctor may recommend that you soak your feet in salt water or diluted vinegar to help dry up blisters.
Alternative therapyTea tree oil has been used as an alternative therapy for treating athlete's foot with some success. A study from 2002 reported that a 50 percent solution of tea tree oil effectively treated athlete's foot in 64 percent of trial participants.
Ask your doctor if a tea tree oil solution can help your athlete's foot. Tea tree oil can cause contact dermatitis in some people.
Find therapeutic-grade tea tree oil on Amazon.
Athlete's foot can lead to complications in some cases. Mild complications include an allergic reaction to the fungus, which can lead to blistering on the feet or hands. It's also possible for the fungal infection to return after treatment.
There can be more severe complications if a secondary bacterial infection develops. In this case, your foot might be swollen, painful, and hot. Pus, drainage, and fever are additional signs of a bacterial infection.
It's also possible for the bacterial infection to spread to the lymph system. A skin infection could lead to infections of your lymphatic system or lymph nodes.
Athlete's foot infections can be mild or severe. Some clear up quickly, and others last a long time. Athlete's foot infections generally respond well to antifungal treatment. However, sometimes fungal infections are difficult to eliminate. Long-term treatment with antifungal medications may be necessary to keep athlete's foot infections from returning.
There are several things you can do to help prevent athlete's foot infections:
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